A methodology for multi-criteria information system design

  • Authors:

  • John S. Chandler;Thomas G. DeLutis

  • Affiliations:

  • The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio;The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

  • Venue:
  • AFIPS '77 Proceedings of the June 13-16, 1977, national computer conference
  • Year:
  • 1977

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Abstract

The design dilemma faced by the designer is to satisfy a set of conflicting user demands and resolve a set of conflicting resource requirements concurrently. In light of the complexity of modern systems, it is assumed that good system design need only produce satisfactory performance for both criteria. Current evaluative techniques, however, concentrate on either the user criterion or the system criterion aspect of the total design problem, but not both. A methodology has been developed that establishes a formal liaison between the evaluation of user goals as a function of system activity and the evaluation of resource utilization as a function of user demand, thereby creating a design/evaluation process that encompasses both criteria. The methodology employs three stages in an iterative manner to produce a "satisfactory" design. The IPSS simulator models and measures system activity, multiple goal programming evaluates both user and system goals, and heuristic procedures determine design modifications to improve performance. A functional description of the methodology and an example of its use will be presented.